How can you lock a layer to prevent accidental changes?

Locking a layer in Adobe After Effects is a straightforward process that helps maintain the integrity of your composition by preventing accidental edits to that layer. The most direct and user-friendly method to achieve this is by clicking on the lock icon located next to the layer name in the timeline panel. When the lock icon is activated, it visually indicates that the layer is locked, and all actions that could alter its properties, position, or content are effectively disabled until the lock is disengaged.

This method is efficient because it provides a quick visual cue for layer management and allows for easy toggling of the layer's locked state as you work on your project. In contrast, the other methods, like right-clicking on the layer or using the Layer menu, while valid, are not as immediate or visually intuitive as using the lock icon. Moreover, changing a layer's visibility does not lock the layer; it simply makes it invisible, which doesn't prevent any changes from being made.